Toby King is ‘forever thankful’ to Wigan Warriors as he prepares for his return to Warrington Wolves.
Toby King reveals that his Wigan Warriors Grand Final victory was laced with melancholy because it was his final game for the club as he prepares to return to the club that didn’t want him last season.
King has been a standout for the Warriors all season, helping them win the Super League title for the first time in five years with a win against Catalans Dragons on Saturday evening.
He will now prepare to return to Warrington, who notified him last season that his services were no longer required before loaning him to Huddersfield and then to Wigan this season.
When questioned if he wanted to stay at Wigan rather than return to Warrington, King replied ‘a lot of people read between the lines,’ but he will be eternally thankful to the Warriors for helping him regain his confidence.
“I’m very emotional,” he remarked in the tunnel at Old Trafford after their Grand Final victory.
“I can’t put into words how I feel right now, but I just didn’t expect it.”
“If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be winning a Grand Final, especially after how last year went, when I didn’t know if I had a club who wanted me until Rads (Kris Radlinski, chief executive) came and met me and put a belief back in myself, I would have laughed.”
“I’m buzzing, I’m made up and thank you Wigan so much for this special year.”
Toby King’s tenure at Wigan Warriors has come to an end, therefore his Grand Final victory is laced with grief.
When asked if he was disappointed that his Wigan career was ended, he replied, “Of course there is.”
“I wanted to give it my all tonight and go out with a bang, and I’ll be eternally grateful to them.” Matt (Peet, coach) has given me so much support that it’s now how you start, it’s how you finish.
“It was different personnel at the club (Warrington) at the time who didn’t want me there.” They went in a different route, and I can’t really discuss it.
“I’m a little emotional right now, so I’ll probably say something stupid, but a lot of people have read between the lines.”
“I haven’t heard much from Warrington; I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m sure that will come.” I’m so delighted I got a taste of this by winning the Grand Final… “I can’t put into words how I felt.”
Toby King expresses gratitude to Kris Radlinski and Matt Peet for the’surreal’ loan opportunity.
King returns to the Halliwell Jones Stadium under new coach Sam Burgess, and he admits that his confidence has been totally restored following the success of his 12-month contract at Wigan.
“12 months ago, with Wigan coming in for me, I met Rads and Matt and they said they expected me to play well in a Grand Final and they backed me to do that,” he went on to say.
“I never thought I’d be able to do that; it’s been a surreal 12 months.”
“Nobody liked it the year before, especially coming from the Warrington side.”
“It was a difficult year for everyone there and for me personally; I didn’t really have anywhere to go, but Wigan brought me in on loan to see how things went, and luckily I’ve done okay.” The fans have been the backbone of everything, and they’ve always been courteous to me.”
